Phonograph recorder



g- 19,43- J. D. MORRISON 7 PHONOGRAPH RECORDER Filed Oct. 27, 1941 V 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1943. J. L. D. MORRISON PHONOGRAPH RECORDER Filed Oct. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Meal/02 72502 @z%/fl% Patented Aug. 1o,' 1943 PHONOGRAPH RECORDER James L. Donaldson Morrison, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to New Products Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich, a corporation of Michigan l iApplication October 2'7, 1941,Serial No. 416,748

lClaim. (01.274-9) This invention relates to a phonograph recorder, and more particularly to a universal recorder attachment for phonograph record players.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, compact and readily attachable recorder mechanism adaptable to any standard form of phonograph recorder player.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a recorder mechanism in the form of an attachment which may be mounted on the base plate or motor board of any standard form of phonograph record players without change in the operating mechanism or modification of the base plate or motor board, and by the simple expedient of drilling a minimum of holes in the base plate to receive the mounting or fastening members.

It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide in a recorder, improved drive means for the recording cutter which shall cause the recording cutter to move toward the centerof the record at a uniform speed whereby the distance between the recorded grooves will be constant.

Applicant's invention also contemplates the provision of a recorder drive mechanism in which irregularities or changes in the speed of the mtor or the turn-table, or irregularities in the surface of the tum-table used to drive the recorder mechanism, will have only negligible efiect on the movement of the recording cutter.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide in a recorder, mounting or driving mechanism for the cutter head which shall permit the cutter head to be set down at any point on the record.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved recorder driving mechanism, in which the parts will wear equally so that the parts over a long period of use will not cause unevenness or irregularities in the driving of the cutter head.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a phonograph record player equipped with a recorder mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line |--'I of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section of a record player equipped with a modified form of recorder mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line Ill-l0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line I l-l l of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line I2-l2 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of the mounting brackets and plates of the recorder mechanism shown in Figures 8 to 12, inclusive.

As shown in the drawings, a recorder mechanism or attachment unit 2 embodying the invention may comprise a mounting ring or supporting base 4 (Figure 4) carrying a mounting plate 6' and a cover or housing member 8, the plate 6 resting upon the inner rim of the ring 4. The recorder mechanism is attachable as a unit, as by two screws l2 passing through apertures drilled in the motor board or base plate 10 and through apertures in the ring 4 and threaded into the cover member 8. The recorder mechanism may thus be mounted as aunit on the base plate of any record player, which comprises a turntable It having a downturned rim IS, the turntable being carried by a spindle or post l8 and receiving a disc type record 20 for traversal by the stylus 22 of the tone arm 24. The recordermechanism or unit is preferably attached to a corner of the base plate diagonally opposite the corner on which the tone arm is mounted, as this permits mounting of the recorder unit on record players equipped with record changing mechanisms which provide one or more record supporting and changing mechanisms mounted on the corner or corners of the base plate adiacent the corner on which the tone arm is mounted. It will be evident that in the absence of such record supporting and changing mechanisms, the recorder unit may be mounted at any place on the base plate suiliciently spaced from the tone arm so as not to interfere therewith, and positioned so that th recording cutter swings on an arc of a circle which passes through the center of the turntable.

The recording cutter head which is of conventional structure comprises the cutting stylus 28, and may be mounted in the usual way on a cutter carrying arm pivoted for vertical movement by a pin 32 on a bracket 34, in turn fastened to a sleeve 36. The bracket 34 is provided with a forwardly projecting arm 38 carrying an adjustable set screw 40 engageable with the upper wall of the cutter arm 30 to limit the downward movement of the cutter arm and stylus.

The sleeve 36 is mounted in a tube 42 to which it is secured by pin or key 44. The tube 42 is journaled'in a boss 45 formed in the base plate 6 and in a hollow stud or sleeve 48. A cup-shaped washer is fastened to the upper end of the tube 42 and encloses a washer 52 of felt or other frictional material superimposed on a metal washer 54 fastened to the upper end of the hollow stud 48. A coil spring 56 encircling a portion of the tube 42 is interposed between a washer 58 resting on the pin 44 and the bottom edge of the hollow stud 48, the spring therefore urging the washers 52 and 54 into frictional driving engagement. A gear 60 is secured to the lower end of the stud 48 and meshes with a worm 62 formed on or secured to a shaft 64 journaled in lugs 66 depending from the top wall of the cover member 8. A worm wheel 68 also secured to the shaft 64 meshes with a vertically disposed worm 10 formed on or secured to a stud shaft 12 journaled in a boss 14 formed with the top wall of the cover member and a boss 18 formed with the bottom plate Ii. v

The stud I2 is provided with a threaded por tion I8 receiving a nut 80, which clamps a friction wheel 82 against the worm I0 or a shoulder formed on the stud shaft, so that the friction wheel drives the stud shaft and worm.

Friction wheel 82 is driven by a smaller disc 84 (Figures 2 and 6) formed with or secured to a stud 85 journaled in the outer end of a plate or lever 80 (Figures 4 to 7, inclusive). A friction drive wheel 90 is keyed or otherwise fastened tothe stud 86 and is interposed between a washer 92 (Figures 2, 5 and 6), held on the stud by cotter pin 94 and the p ate or lever 88. The plate or lever 88 is provided with an enlarged opening or slot 96 through which the stud 12 passes, so that theplate or lever may swing to permit the friction drivewheel 90 to move in and out of the cover member 8 through a slot 98 in the inner wall thereof toward and from the turn-table. The plate or. lever 88 is guided in its movement by a pin-and-slot connection between the lever and the base plate 6, which pin-and-slot connection may comprise a lug I00 depending from the lever 88 and received in a slot I02 in the base plate 6.

A coil spring I04 received in the bore of a housing I06 formed with or secured to the base plate 6 engages the plate or lever 88 so as to urge the lever 88 and the friction wheel 00 in a direction toward the turn-table I4, and preferable into engagement with the rim l6 of said stantly proportional to the turn-table. The spring I4 is of suflicient strength to maintain the friction wheel in frictional driving engagement with the rim of the turn-table without slippage, while at the same time permitting inward and outward movement of the friction wheel with any irregularities in the shape or surface of the turn-table rim.

Means is provided for automatically releasing the friction wheel 90 from driving engagement with the turn-table as the cutter arm is moved outwardly of the turn-table or recording disc to its rest' position upon completion of a recording operation. This means comprises a coil spring I08 (Figure 5) secured at one end, as by eyelet H0, to the lever or plate 88, and at its other end to the laterally bent end of the pin 44, which, for this purpose, is extended radially outwardly from the tube 42. Thus, as the cutter arm .30 is swung by hand outwardly of the turn-table or recording disc upon completion of a recording operation, the sleeve 35 attached thereto is swung in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in Figure 5), thereby swinging the pin 44 in the same direction, and tensioning the spring I08 sufliciently to overpower the spring I 04, and to move the lever 88 and the friction drive wheel 90 carried thereby in a direction away from the turn-table so that the friction wheel is moved out of engagement with the rim of the turn-table. The spring I08 is of such length and so calibrated that, when the recording cutter stylus 28 is positioned adjacent the rim of the largest recording disc, the spring I08, substantially untensioned, will be overpowered by the spring I04 so that the friction wheel 90 will then be in driving engagement with the rim of the turn table and may move inwardly and outwardly under the action of the spring I04 with any irregularities in the turn-table rim.

It will be evident that the recording mechanism or attachment unit 2 shown in Figures 1 and 7 is adaptable to substantially any record player, including record players equipped with record changing mechanisms, and that this unit may be so mounted without modification of the record player or. the base plate or motor board thereof by the simple expedient of drilling two holes in the motor board to receive the mounting screws I2, and that such unit will in no wise interfere with or require any modification of, the driving mechanisms for the record player or for the record changer mechanism which are conventionally mounted below the base plate or motor board I0.

It will also be evident that since the driving mechanism for the cutter arm comprises only rotating members, the speeds of which are conspeed of rotation of the turn-table, the cutter head will move across the recording disc at a uniform speed proportional to-the speed of rotation of the turn-table, thereby to provide tracks or recorded grooves of uniform spacing. Record players equipped with recorder mechanisms commonly employ motion changing mechanisms to eflect the swinging of the cutting arm. as a rectilinearly movable element is propelled by its driving element. Thus, for example, a rotating lead screw moves a follower rectilinearly, and the follower through a motion changing mechanism swings the cutting arm in an arc across the recording disc. Since the follower moves in a rectilinear path and the cutter arm moves in an arc, the distance between the centers of adjacent grooves varies from edge to center of the recording disc, and this disuniformity in the spacing of the record grooves prevents faithful reproduction of the sound recorded. Thus it will be seen that uniform tracking, as accomplished by the recording mechanism herein disclosed, makes possible high fidelity recording by inexpensive home recorder methods and equipment.

It will also be clear that the recorder drive mechanism disclosed herein minimizes the effect of irregularities in the speed of the motor 'or theturn-table, or unevenesses in the rim of the turn-table, for the enormous speed reduction effected by this mechanism between the turn-table and the cutter arm renders any speed change thus caused negligible in its effect on the. speed of movement of the cutter head across the recording disc,

The friction clutch connection between the hollow driving stud 48 and the cutter head pivot post or sleeve 36'permits the cutter stylus to be set down on the recording disc at any desired point, and therefore any interrupted recording may be completed at any time without substantial gap between, or overlapping of the recorded sound.

In the form of invention shown in figures 8 to I3, inclusive, the recorder mechanism comprises two attachment units, one of said units being the power'take-ofi mechanism H2 (Figures 8, 9, and 11 to 13, inclusive), and the other a cutter arm mounting unit 114 (Figures 8 and 10).

The power take-ofi mechanism comprises a friction drive wheel H6 fastened or keyed to a headed stud II8 carried by one arm of a lever I20, the stud being journaled in the lever. A helical gear or pinion I22 is fastened to the stud 22 and interposed between the wheel I I6 and the lever I20. A washer I24, held by cotter pin I26, holds the wheel, pinion, lever, and stud in assembled relation. The lever I20 is joumaled on the reduced upper end of ,a stud and mounting bolt I28 formed with enlarged part or collar I30 on which the lever rests and by which the lever is spaced from the mounting plateor bracket I32. The stud I28 passes through an aperture drilled into the motor board I and is bolted thereto in any convenient manner as by the nut I34.

The gear I 22 meshes with the helical gear I36 secured to a shaft I38, this shaft being journaled in spaced lugs I40 and I42 upstanding from the plate or bracket I32. A nonreversible worm I44 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft I38 and meshes with a pinion I46, the pinion being journaled on a vertical stud and mounting bolt I48. The hub of the pinion I46 is extended axially of the stud and has secured to this hub portion a pair of spaced washers I50 and I52, between which is interposed a pair of slightly cupped washers I54 and I56 of leather or other frictional material, the washers I54 and I56 being spaced by a washer I58 of relatively small diameter. The washers I50 to I58 are held on the hub of the pinion in any suitable manner as by the peened-over lower edge of this hub portion and by a collar or annular flange I60 on the stud I48. A portion of the stud below the flange I60 passes through a suitable aperture drilled in the motor board I0 and receives a nut I62 by which the stud is clamped to the motor board. The stud is also received in an opening provided by the plate or bracket I32, the flange I60 resting on this plate. A washer I64 held by a pin I 66 secures the pinion on the stud shaft I48.

The plate or lever I20, which carries the stud H8, and is pivotally mounted by the stud I28, is formed with spaced lugs I68 and I10, between which is received the lug I42 upstanding from the mounting plate or bracket I32. A light coil spring I12 is fastened at one end to pin I14 carried by the lever I20, and at its other end is secured to 9. lug I16 upstanding from the plate or bracket I82; The spring I12 normally urges the lever I20 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 8, about the mounting pivot I28 so as to resiliently and yieldably urge the friction wheel II8 into frictional driving engagement with the rim I6 01 the tum-table I4.

The cutter head mounting unit II 4 comprises a mounting post or standard I18 having a reduced, externally threaded portion I80 .passing through an aperture drilled into the motor board I0 and receives on the portion I80 a nut I02 which fastens the standard to the motor board. Thepivot post or sleeve I84 for the cutter arm 80 is journaled in the standard I18. The pivot post.

An operating lever Or crank I94 extends beneath the tum-table and between the tum-table and the motor board to the standard I18. The outer end of this-lever is extended upwardly as at I96 and is fastened to a flange I90 of the bracket I86 as by the screws or bolts I98. Thus any angular movement of the lever I94 will aifect a corresponding angular movement 01' the cutter arm about the vertical axis of its pivot post I84. The lever or crank I94 is formed at its inner end with a segmental portion of proper thickness to b received between slightly cupped washers I54 and I56 and to be frictionally driven by these washers. Thus it will be clear that the cutter head will be swung in an arc across the turntable or recording disc at a speed constantly proportioned to the speed of rotation of the turntable, and that, as In the case of the form oi. invention shown in Figures 1 and 7, interference with the swinging of the cutter arm or manual manipulation thereof will notjam the driving mechanism, for slippage between the frictionally engaged driving members will readily be permitted.

In the form .of'invention shown in Figures 8 and 13 means is also provided for moving the driving wheel II6 out of engagement with the turn-tabl when the cutter arm is moved to its rest position. This means comprises a coil spring 202 secured at one end to some intermediate point on the lever I94, and at its other end to pin I66, the p n I66 being pivoted at its inner end to one arm of the lever I20. Thus, as the cutter arm is moved in acounterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 8, to its rest position, the lever or crank I94 will be swung in the same direction and a pull exerted on the pin I66 by the spring 202. This pulling of the pin I66 will cause a clockwise movement of the lever I20 about its pivot stud I28, and thereby move the friction wheel II6 away from the rim I6 of the tum-table. It will be clear that, by virtue of the friction clutch connection.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A recording mechanism for a phonograph record player having a base plate supporting a turn-table, said mechanism comprising a recording arm adapted to carry a recording stylus, means for pivotally mounting said arm on said plate to one side of said turn-table, a drive wheel, a supporting bracket for said drive wheel, said bracket being constructed for attachment to said plate to position the drive wheel beneath the said drive wheel being shiftably 20 turn-table,

mounted on said bracket for movement into and out of engagement with said tum-table, means for yieldably urging said wheel into engagement with said turn-table, speed reducing mechanism mounted on said bracket and connected to said wheel, said speed reducing mechanism being constructed to permit movement of said wheel in a direction toward and from the tum-table while drivingly connected thereto, said speed reducing mechanism comprising a pair of spaced members having inner frictional driving surfaces, and a link connected to said arm and extending beneath said turn-table, said arm having the inner barlike portion adapted to be received between said members in engagement with said frictional surfaces upon positioning of said recording arm to engage said stylus with a record member on said turn-table.

JAMES L. DONALDSON MORRISON. 

